Information processing device and method, recording medium, and program

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program for furnishing discs with different additional information specific to a given device for disc management purposes. An information control unit  351  references a disc management table in a data management memory  328 A to verify whether or not a disc ID of a disc  1  acquired from a current disc information management unit  353  has already been recorded. If the result of the verification reveals that the disc has never been loaded, the information control unit  351  adds disc information about the disc  1  to the disc management table. A user may furnish the disc  1  with such additional information as a local disc ID and a local disc name specific to the user&#39;s device. The information control unit  351  enters the additional information into the disc management table in association with the disc ID. This invention can be applied advantageously to personal computers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processingapparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and aprogram. More particularly, the invention relates to an informationprocessing apparatus, an information processing method, a recordingmedium, and a program for managing information recorded on recordingmedia such as optical discs in such a manner that the recordedinformation may be displayed in an easy-to-view format, sorted out, andsearched for with ease.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Today, diverse recording media such as magnetic discs, opticaldiscs, magneto-optical discs, and semiconductor memories are coming-intogeneral use. Illustratively, users can record desired music or picturedata to the recording medium, reproduce recorded music or picture datafrom the medium, or edit the recorded data through the intervention ofthe medium.

[0003] However, one disadvantage has been recognized for the disc media:they have no IDs of their own, so that there has been no viable methodby which to manage the discs using IDs.

[0004] A method has been proposed which allows users to write anydistinguishable IDs to their own AV (audio visual) apparatus for discmanagement. A disadvantage of this method is that since the IDs arewritten to an internal memory of each apparatus, the discs involved canbe managed by that apparatus alone and not by any other AV apparatus, atleast not in the same manner.

[0005] Where a single disc is to be shared by a plurality of users, itis preferred that the disc be furnished with different additionalinformation specific to each user or to each AV apparatus to be used.

[0006] If data are desired to be recorded to a given disc and if thatdisc is not immediately available for loading into the AV apparatus athand, it is desirable that the data be retained temporarily on aninternal hard disc or the like of the apparatus for management purposes.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the abovecircumstances and provides an apparatus, a method, a recording medium,and a program for furnishing discs with different additional informationspecific to each user or to each apparatus and for allowing data to bestored temporarily inside the apparatus if a recording disc is notloaded in the apparatus for the moment.

[0008] An information processing apparatus of the present inventionincludes: a reading means for reading, from a loaded informationrecording medium, identification information for identifying theinformation recording medium; an acquiring means for acquiring relatedinformation about first content data recorded on the informationrecording medium; a recording means for recording the identificationinformation read out by the reading means and the related informationacquired by the acquiring means, in such a manner that theidentification information is associated with the related information;and a comparing means for comparing the identification information readout by the reading means with the identification information associatedwith the related information recorded by the recording means.

[0009] If the comparison by the comparing means reveals that theidentification information read out by the reading means has not beenrecorded by the recording means, then the recording means may record theidentification information and the related information acquired by theacquiring means in such a manner that the identification information isassociated with the related information.

[0010] The information processing apparatus may further include: adisplay controlling means for controlling display of the relatedinformation recorded by the recording means; and a selecting means forselecting the related information of which the display is controlled bythe display controlling means; wherein the comparing means may comparethe identification information associated with the related informationselected by the selecting means with the identification information readout by the reading means.

[0011] The information processing apparatus may further include areproducing means which, if the comparison by the comparing meansreveals that the identification information associated with the relatedinformation selected by the selecting means matches the identificationinformation read out by the reading means, then reproduces from theinformation recording medium the first content data associated with therelated information selected by the selecting means.

[0012] The information processing apparatus may further include anotifying means which, if the comparison by the comparing means revealsthat the identification information associated with the relatedinformation selected by the selecting means does not match theidentification information read out by the reading means, then prompts auser to load the information recording medium associated with theidentification information read out by the reading means.

[0013] The information processing apparatus may further include: astoring means for storing second content data acquired so as to berecorded to the information recording medium, in association with theidentification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; and a determining means for determining whether or not theidentification information read out by the reading means matches theidentification information associated with the second content datastored by the storing means.

[0014] The information processing apparatus may further includea,writing means which, if the determining means determines that theidentification information read out by the reading means matches theidentification information associated with the second content datastored by the storing means, then reads the second content data from thestoring means and writes the second content data to the informationrecording medium.

[0015] The recording means may record, in association with theidentification information, additional information which differs fromthe related information recorded on the information recording medium andwhich concerns the first content data.

[0016] An information processing method of the present inventionincludes the steps of: reading, from a loaded information recordingmedium, identification information for identifying the informationrecording medium; acquiring related information about first content datarecorded on the information recording medium; recording theidentification information read out in the reading step and the relatedinformation acquired in the acquiring step, in such a manner that theidentification information is associated with the related information;and comparing the identification information read out in the readingstep with the identification information associated with the relatedinformation recorded in the recording step.

[0017] The information processing method may further include the stepsof: storing second content data acquired so as to be recorded to theinformation recording medium, in association with the identificationinformation for identifying the information recording medium; anddetermining whether or not the identification information read out inthe reading step matches the identification information associated withthe second content data stored in the storing step.

[0018] The information processing method may further include the stepof, if the determining step determines that the identificationinformation read out in the reading step matches the identificationinformation associated with the second content data stored in thestoring step, reading the second content data stored in the storing stepand writing the second content data to the information recording medium.

[0019] A recording medium of the present invention which stores acomputer-readable program includes the steps of: reading, from a loadedinformation recording medium, identification information for identifyingthe information recording medium; acquiring related information aboutcontent data recorded on the information recording medium; recording theidentification information read out in the reading step and the relatedinformation acquired in the acquiring step, in such a manner that theidentification information is associated with the related information;and comparing the identification information read out in the readingstep with the identification information associated with the relatedinformation recorded in the recording step.

[0020] A program of the present invention for causing a computer toexecute the steps of: reading, from a loaded information recordingmedium, identification information for identifying the informationrecording medium; acquiring related information about content datarecorded on the information recording medium; recording theidentification information read out in the reading step and the relatedinformation acquired in the acquiring step, in such a manner that theidentification information is associated with the related information;and comparing the identification information read out in the readingstep with the identification information associated with the relatedinformation recorded in the recording step.

[0021] Through the use of the information processing apparatus,information processing method, and program according to the invention,identification information for identifying a loaded informationrecording medium is first read out of the medium. Related informationabout the content data recorded on that information recording medium isacquired. The two kinds of information are then recorded in associationwith each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a block diagram outlining a typical structure of a videorecorder embodying this invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing typical current informationheld in a storage unit;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a schematic view sketching a data structure of currentinformation retained in the storage unit;

[0025]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of steps constituting a routine process;

[0026]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of steps detailing a duplication process instep S2 of FIG. 4;

[0027]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a typical library list screendisplay;

[0028]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of steps detailing a reproductionreservation process as an example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

[0029]FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a typical submenu display of thelibrary list;

[0030]FIG. 8B is a schematic view of another typical submenu display ofthe library list;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a typical title list screen display;

[0032]FIG. 10A is a schematic view of another typical submenu display ofthe title list;

[0033]FIG. 10B is a schematic view of another typical submenu display ofthe title list;

[0034]FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

[0035]FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a typical error message screendisplay;

[0036]FIG. 13 is a flowchart of steps detailing a search process asanother example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

[0037]FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a typical tool display of thelibrary list;

[0038]FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a typical search condition settingscreen display;

[0039]FIG. 16 is a schematic view of another typical search conditionsetting screen display;

[0040]FIG. 17 is a schematic view of another typical search conditionsetting screen display;

[0041]FIG. 18 is a schematic view of another typical search conditionsetting screen display;

[0042]FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a typical search result screendisplay;

[0043]FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a typical search settingconfirmation screen display;

[0044]FIG. 21 is a flowchart of steps detailing a deletion process asanother example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

[0045]FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a typical screen display fordeleting selected entries from the list;

[0046]FIG. 23 is a schematic view depicting another typical screendisplay for deleting selected entries from the list;

[0047]FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating a typical dialog screendisplay for deleting selected entries from the list;

[0048]FIG. 25 is a schematic view indicating a typical dialog screendisplay for deleting an entry from the list;

[0049]FIG. 26 is a flowchart of steps detailing a mode setting processas another example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

[0050]FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display forsetting list entry mode;

[0051]FIG. 28A is a schematic view of a typical message screen display;

[0052]FIG. 28B is a schematic view of another typical message screendisplay;

[0053]FIG. 29 is a schematic view of another typical message screendisplay;

[0054]FIG. 30 is a flowchart of steps detailing a duplicate storageprocess in step S12 of FIG. 4;

[0055]FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a typical tool display of the titlelist;

[0056]FIG. 32 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display ofdisc information;

[0057]FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a typical AV system embodying thisinvention;

[0058]FIG. 34 is a block diagram presenting electrical connections in adigital video recorder included in FIG. 33;

[0059]FIG. 35 is a block diagram outlining the functions of a systemcontroller included in FIG. 34;

[0060]FIG. 36 is a schematic view showing a typical structure of an HDDincluded in FIG. 35;

[0061]FIG. 37 is a schematic view depicting relations between a datamanagement memory and the HDD;

[0062]FIG. 38 is a schematic view illustrating other relations betweenthe data management memory and the HDD;

[0063]FIG. 39 is a flowchart of steps constituting another routineprocess;

[0064]FIG. 40 is a schematic view of a typical disc information screendisplay;

[0065]FIG. 41 is a flowchart of steps constituting a content recordingprocess;

[0066]FIG. 42 is a schematic view of a typical content recording settingscreen display;

[0067]FIG. 43 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

[0068]FIG. 44 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen displaybrought about when a No button is selected on the dialog screen of FIG.43;

[0069]FIG. 45 is a flowchart of steps constituting a recording process;

[0070]FIG. 46 is a schematic view of another typical dialog screendisplay;

[0071]FIG. 47 is a schematic view of a typical disc change screendisplay;

[0072]FIG. 48 is a flowchart of steps constituting a priority settingprocess;

[0073]FIG. 49 is a schematic view-of a typical priority setting screendisplay;

[0074]FIG. 50 is a schematic view of a typical pull-down screen displaybrought about when a Priority button is selected on the priority settingscreen of FIG. 49;

[0075]FIG. 51A is an explanatory view showing how priorities are set;

[0076]FIG. 51B is another explanatory view depicting how priorities areset;

[0077]FIG. 52 is a flowchart of steps constituting a search process;

[0078]FIG. 53 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

[0079]FIG. 54 is a flowchart of steps constituting a display process;

[0080]FIG. 55 is a schematic view of a typical HDD reference screendisplay;

[0081]FIG. 56 is a schematic view of a typical disc reference screendisplay; and

[0082]FIG. 57 is a block diagram sketching a typical internal structureof a general-purpose computer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0083] Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084]FIG. 1 schematically shows a typical structure of a digital videorecorder practiced as a first embodiment of this invention. This digitalvideo recorder is capable of reproducing video and audio content datafrom a disc 1 and recording some information to the disc 1.

[0085] The disc 1 is loaded into a disc drive, not shown, of the digitalvideo recorder. The disc 1 is any one of writable media such as CD-R(Compact Disc-Recordable), CD-RW (CD-ReWritable), DVD-R (DigitalVersatile Disc-Recordable), and DVD-RW (DVD-ReWritable). The digitalvideo recorder may record video and audio content data or additionalinformation (e.g., disc name and title names) associated with thecontent data to data recording areas of the disc 1. A plurality of titlenames may be recorded to a single disc 1.

[0086] A predetermined recording area of the disc 1 illustrativelycontains a previously recorded 16-digit disc ID specific to that disc.Certain digits of the disc ID (e.g., its low-order four digits) arevisibly indicated as a cartridge ID on the disc surface.

[0087] Although only one disc is shown in the example of FIG. 1, this isnot limitative of the invention. A digital video recorder with a discchanger capability may have a plurality of discs 1 loaded therein.

[0088] An information control unit 2 executes predetermined controlprograms based on input signals which represent a user's operations andwhich are fed from an input unit 11. Through the program execution, theinformation control unit 2 controls a search unit 3, a sort unit 4, arecording/reproduction unit 5, a current disc information managementunit 6, and a storage information management unit 7. The informationcontrol unit 2 acquires current information from the current discinformation management unit 6 and sends the acquired information to thestorage information management unit 7.

[0089] The information control unit 2 supplies a display unit 9 andspeakers 10 with pictures and sounds represented by the content data fedfrom the recording/reproduction unit 5. Furthermore, the informationcontrol unit 2 outputs to the display unit 9 diverse kinds ofinformation (disc information and title information, to be describedlater) sent from the current disc information management unit 6 or fromthe storage information management unit 7. Also output to the displayunit 9 are search results from the search unit 3 and sorted results fromthe sort unit 4.

[0090] Under control of the information control unit 2, the search unit3 causes the current disc information management unit 6 and storageinformation management unit 7 to search for the information designatedby the user, and sends the result of the search to the informationcontrol unit 2. The sort unit 4 under control of the information controlunit 2 causes the current disc information management unit 6 and storageinformation management unit 7 to sort information in the orderdesignated by the user, and supplies the sorted result to theinformation control unit 2.

[0091] The recording/reproduction unit 5 under control of theinformation control unit 2 records content data from the informationcontrol unit 2 to the disc 1, or reads content data from the disc 1 andsupplies the retrieved data to the control unit 2. In addition, therecording/reproduction unit 5 under control of the information controlunit 2 records to the disc 1 various kinds of information which havebeen input by the user.

[0092] The current disc information management unit 6 acquires currentinformation from the loaded disc 1 and sends the acquired information tothe information control unit 2. The storage information management unit7 stores into a storage unit 8 the current information acquired from theinformation control unit 2, or retrieves current information from thestorage unit 8 and feeds the retrieved information to the informationcontrol unit 2.

[0093] The storage unit 8 is illustratively made up of a mass-storagehard disc drive. Under management of the storage information managementunit 7, the storage unit 8 retains the current information acquired fromthe disc 1. The current information at least includes a disc ID and atitle number associated with that disc ID.

[0094] With this embodiment, when the disc 1 is loaded, currentinformation retrieved from the disc 1 is stored successively into thestorage unit 8 as long as the unit 8 has a free space. When the storageunit 8 has been exhausted in capacity, the stored information isoverwritten with new information either automatically or upon display ofa message prompting the user to delete unnecessary information fromstorage.

[0095] The display unit 9 is constituted illustratively by an LCD(liquid crystal display) or the like. In operation, the display unit 9reproduces (i.e., displays) content data from the disc 1 or displays alibrary list screen 51 (FIG. 6), to be discussed later.

[0096] The input unit 11 may be composed of buttons, switches, akeyboard, a mouse, and/or a jog dial attached to the apparatus body. Theinput unit 11 may alternatively a remote commander furnishedindependently of the body.

[0097]FIG. 2 schematically shows typical current information held in thestorage unit 8. In the storage unit 8, disc information 21 is stored inassociation with sets of title information 22-1 through 22-N (or simplycalled the title information 22 if there is no specific need todistinguish the title information sets 22-1 through 22-N from oneanother). Although only one set of disc information 21 is shown in theexample of FIG. 2, this is not limitative of the invention.Alternatively, a plurality of disc information sets 21 may be stored,each in association with the title information sets 22-1 through 22-N.

[0098] The disc information 21 includes a disc ID, a disc name, a disclock flag, a remaining disc capacity, a total title count, and recordingdates. The disc ID is illustratively formed by 16 alphanumericcharacters specific to the disc 1 and recorded previously on the disc 1.A suitable disc name is provided by the user in order to name the disc 1as desired. The disc lock flag indicates whether the informationrecorded on the disc 1 is being locked. The remaining disc capacityrefers to the currently available storage capacity of the disc 1. Thetotal title count represents the total number of title information sets22-1 through 22-N, to be described later. The recording dates indicatethe oldest and the latest dates of the content data recorded on the disc1.

[0099] The title information sets 22-1 through 22-N each include a titlenumber, a title-specific number, a title name, a channel name, arecording date, an unwatched flag, and a recording length. The titlenumber is any number that is distinguishable within the disc 1. Thetitle-specific number represents a number that is specific to eachcontent data item. The tile name is a name given to each content dataitem. The channel name denotes the broadcasting station from which thecontent data were broadcast. The recording date stands for the date onwhich the content data were recorded. The unwatched flag is a flag thatindicates whether a given content data item has been watched.

[0100]FIG. 3 depicts a typical data structure of current informationstored in the storage unit 8. With this data structure, disc informationsets 21-1 through 21-50 for up to 50 discs 1 may be accommodated. Forpurpose of illustration, the disc information sets 21-1 through 21-50may be associated with 200 title information sets 22-1-1 through22-50-200.

[0101] The storage unit 8 is formed illustratively by a total of 108blocks ranging from block 0 to block 107, each block having a size of 16kilobytes. In the description that follows, the blocks 0 through 102 maybe collectively called a storage area and the blocks 103 through 107 atemp area as needed.

[0102] The block 0 (TOC) accommodates 15 kilobytes of TOC (table ofcontents) information. The block 1 holds disc information sets 21-1through 21-25 and the block 2 retains disc information sets 21-26through 21-50, each disc information set having a size of 600 bytes. Theblock 3 (title) has title information sets 22-1-1 through 22-1-100,block 4 has title information sets 22-1-101 through 22-1-200, and so on.The block 102 has title information sets 22-50-101 through 22-50-200.Each title information set has a size of 160 bytes.

[0103] In the example of FIG. 3, one block accommodates disc information21 of 25 discs and title information 22 of 100 titles. The regionsindicated as “Reserved” make up unused (i.e., reserved) areas.

[0104] The block 103 (temp header) holds location information aboutcontent data recorded on the loaded disc. The block 104 (temp TOC)retains TOC information about the loaded disc. The block 105 (temp disc)keeps disc information about the loaded disc. The blocks 106 and 107(temp title 1, temp title 2) each accommodate title information aboutthe loaded disc. The blocks 103 through 107 are provided for use in aduplication process executed to eliminate mismatches between storedinformation items.

[0105] The phenomenon called the mismatch occurs illustratively whenpower is removed inadvertently while data are being written to thestorage unit 8. The sudden disruption of power can leave a single dataitem updated only halfway; part of the data item is renewed but the restremains old.

[0106] With this embodiment, the mismatch is prevented for each disc 1by operating simultaneously on one block of TOC information, one blockof disc information, and two (or a plurality of) blocks of titleinformation. Illustratively, the block 0 holding the TOC information,block 1 retaining the disc information set 21-1, and blocks 3 and 4having the title information sets 22-1-1 through 22-1-200 are handled asa single coherent group for a disc ID of “0.”

[0107] Information is written and retrieved on a block-by-block basis.When the information in the temp area is all copied to the storage areain a process that will be described later, the temp header (block 103)of the temp area is cleared.

[0108] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 is theroutine process carried out by the digital video decoder shown in FIG.1.

[0109] In step S1, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot the digital video recorder is turned on in response to the user'soperation. The information control unit 2 waits for power to be applied.If power is found to be applied in step S1, step S2 is reached. In stepS2, the information control unit 2 causes the storage informationmanagement unit 7 to carry out a duplication process.

[0110] Details of the duplication process are discussed below byreferring to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0111] In step S21, the storage information management unit 7 readsinformation from the temp header (block 103) in the temp area of thestorage unit 8. In step S22, the storage information management unit 7determines whether the temp header information retrieved in step S21turns out to be cleared. If the temp header information is found to becleared, step S23 is reached.

[0112] In step S23, the storage information management unit 7 determinesthat the diverse kinds of information held in the storage area are validgiven the fact that the temp header information is found cleared. Thestorage information management unit 7 then reads the TOC informationfrom the TOC (block 0) in the storage area.

[0113] If in step S22 the temp header information is not found to becleared, step S24 is reached. In step S24, the storage informationmanagement unit 7 determines that the items of information held in thestorage area are invalid. The storage information management unit 7 thenreads the TOC information from the temp TOC (block 104) in the temp areaand copies the retrieved information to the TOC (block 0) in the storagearea.

[0114] In step S25, the storage information management unit 7 reads thedisc information from the temp disc block (block 105) in the temp areain accordance with the temp header information, and copies the retrievedinformation to a disc block (e.g., block 1) in the storage area.

[0115] In step S26, the storage information management unit 7 reads thetitle information from the temp title 1 (block 106) in the temp area inaccordance with the temp header information, and copies the retrievedinformation to a title block (e.g., block 3) in the storage area. Ifmore title information is found in the temp title 2 (block 107), thatinformation is copied to another title block (e.g., block 4) in thestorage area.

[0116] In step S27, the storage information management unit 7 clears theinformation from the temp header (block 103) in the temp area.

[0117] As described, if the items of information kept in the storagearea are found to be invalid, then steps S24 through S27 are carried outto copy the valid information retained in the temp area. The process isdesigned to maintain data consistency.

[0118] After step S23 or S27, control is returned to step S3 of FIG. 4.In step S3, the information control unit 2 causes the storageinformation management unit 7 to acquire disc information and titleinformation using the TOC information as the key. That is, the storageinformation management unit 7 obtains the disc and title informationfrom the storage unit 8 on the basis of the TOC information retrieved instep S23 or S24 as discussed above with reference to FIG. 5.

[0119] In step S4, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot the disc 1 is loaded in the disc drive, not shown. If the disc 1 isfound to be loaded, step S5 is reached. In step S5, the informationcontrol unit 2 causes the current disc information management unit 6 toread the-current information from the loaded disc 1.

[0120] If in step S4 the disc 1 is not found to be loaded, step S5 isskipped. In step S6, the information control unit 2 determines whetheror not the user has requested display of a library list. The informationcontrol unit 2 waits for the user to request a library list display.

[0121] If in step S6 the display of a library list is found requested,step S7 is reached. In step S7, the information control unit 2 outputsto the display unit 9 the current information acquired from the currentdisc information management unit 6 and the disc information obtainedfrom the storage information management unit 7. The display unit 9displays the received information as the library list.

[0122]FIG. 6 gives a display example of a library list screen 51. Thelibrary list screen 51 indicates a library list display area 52, acursor 53, a loaded disc mark 54, a display sequence setting area 55, anOK button, a Tool button 57, and a Back button 58.

[0123] The library list display area 52 shows a list of cartridge IDs(part of disc IDs), disc names, and remaining disc capacities taken outof the disc information acquired from the current disc informationmanagement unit 6 and storage information management unit 7. The cursor53 is shown highlighting the disc information constituted by “0134(cartridge ID), ** Hamasaki (disc name), 12.0 GM (remaining disccapacity).” The loaded disc mark 54 indicates that the loaded disc 1 hasthe disc information “5281, *** STORY, 5.8 GB.”

[0124] The display sequence setting area 55 shows items “Number,” “Name”and “Remaining Capacity.” The displayed information is sorted by one ofthese items which is selected by the user (i.e., by cartridge ID, bydisc name, or by remaining disc capacity in descending order). In theexample of FIG. 6, the displayed information is shown sorted by number(by cartridge ID).

[0125] The buttons 56 through 58 are each selected as needed by the useroperating the input unit 11. Selecting the OK button 56 displays asubmenu 61 (FIG. 8A or 8B); selecting the Tool button 57 displays a toolmenu 121 (FIG. 14); and selecting the Back button 58 terminates thelibrary list screen 51.

[0126] Returning to step S8 in FIG. 4, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has requested any one ofpredetermined processes (e.g., reproduction reservation, search, ordeletion). If one of these processes is found to be requested, step S9is reached in which the requested process is performed.

[0127] For example, it is assumed that the reproduction reservationprocess is requested in step S9. Details of the reproduction reservationprocess are discussed below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

[0128] In step S41, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot any title is selected and its reproduction requested by the user.The information control unit 2 waits for reproduction of a title to berequested. Described below with reference to FIGS. 8A through 10 is whattakes place until a desired title is selected and its reproductionrequested.

[0129] Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 selects adesired item (disc information “0134, *** Hamasaki, 12.0 GB” in thisexample) by use of the cursor 53 on the library list screen 51 andpushes the OK button 56. In that case, the information control unit 2,given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display thelibrary list submenu 61 as shown in FIG. 8A. The submenu 61 includessuch user-selectable items as “Close,” “Title List,” “Disc Information,”and “Delete Entries from List.”

[0130] If locked disc information (e.g., “0007: This Disc Is Locked” inFIG. 6) is selected by the cursor 53 before the OK button 56 is pushed,then the submenu 61 of FIG. 8B appears. This submenu 61 indicatesuser-selectable items such as “Close” and “Delete Entries from List.”

[0131] When the user selects the item “Title List” by operating a cursor62 on the submenu 61 of FIG. 8A, the information control unit 2 outputsto the display unit 9 the title information which corresponds to theuser-selected disc information and which is derived from the titleinformation acquired from the storage information management unit 7. (Inthis case, the title information corresponds to the disc informationhaving the cartridge ID “0134” and the disc name “*** Hamasaki.”) Thedisplay unit 9 displays the received information as a title list.

[0132]FIG. 9 schematically shows a display example of a title listscreen 71. The title list screen 71 includes a title list display area72, a cursor 73, a Close button 74, an OK button 75, a Tool button 76,and a Back button 77.

[0133] The title list display area 72 gives a list of title numbers,title names, and recording dates derived from the title informationassociated with the disc information having the cartridge ID “0134” andthe disc name “*** Hamasaki.” In this example, the cursor 73 is shownhighlighting the title information “26 (title No.), Title A (titlename), Nov. 30, 1999 (recording date).”

[0134] The buttons 74 through 77 are each selected as needed foroperation by the user. Selecting the Close button 74 terminates thetitle list screen 71 and replaces it with the library list screen 51(FIG. 6); selecting the OK button 75 displays a title list submenu 81(FIG. 10A or 10B); selecting the Tool button 76 displays a title listtool menu 271 (FIG. 31); and selecting the Back button 77 terminates thetitle list screen 71 and replaces it with the library list screen 51.

[0135] Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 selects adesired item (title information “26, Title A, Nov. 30, 1999” in thisexample) by use of the cursor 73 on the title list screen 71 and pushesthe OK button 75. In that case, the information control unit 2, giventhe user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display the titlelist submenu 81 as shown in FIG. 10A. The submenu 81 includes suchuser-selectable items as “Close,” “Reproduce,” and “Reproduce fromDesired Location.”

[0136] If the content data corresponding to the title informationselected by the cursor 73 are being reproduced at present, a title listsubmenu 81 such as one shown in FIG. 10B appears. This submenu 81includes such user-selectable items as “Close” and “Reproduce and Stop.”

[0137] Selecting the item “Reproduce” using a cursor 82 on the submenu81 of FIG. 10A allows the user to request reproduction of the desiredtitle. This operation permits the information control unit 2 todetermine, in step S41 of FIG. 7, that reproduction of the specifiedtitle has been requested. The information control unit 2 then goes tostep S42.

[0138] In step S42, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot any title (content data) not recorded on the loaded disc has beenselected. If any title absent from the loaded disc is found to beselected, step S43 is reached. In step S43, the information control unit2 sets the recording/reproduction unit 5 to automatic reproduction mode.

[0139] In step S44, the information control unit 2 causes the displayunit 9 to display a message prompting the user to load the selecteddisc. Illustratively, a dialog screen 91 shown in FIG. 11 appears. Thedialog screen 91 indicates a disc name 92 of the selected disc (“0134,*** Hamasaki” in this example) along with the message urging the user toload the disc.

[0140] Viewing the dialog screen 91, the user can easily search throughthe visibly indicated cartridge IDs of the discs 1 at hand for thecartridge ID (“0134” in this case) of the disc containing the title tobe reproduced (content data).

[0141] The dialog screen 91 of FIG. 11 includes a Cancel button 93 and aBack button 94 which may be operated selectively by the user. Operatingthe Cancel button 93 cancels reproduction of the content data, andoperating the Back button 94 calls up the library list screen 51 (FIG.6) again.

[0142] Returning to step S45 in FIG. 7, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has pushed the Cancel button 93 orthe Back button 94. If the Cancel button 93 or the Back button 94 isfound to be pushed, step S46 is reached. In step S46, the informationcontrol unit 2 cancels the automatic reproduction mode set for therecording/reproduction unit 5 in step S43.

[0143] If in step S45 neither the Cancel button 93 nor the Back button94 is found selected, step S47 is reached. In step S47, therecording/reproduction unit 5 determines whether or not the selecteddisc (disc with the cartridge ID “0134” and the disc name “*** Hamasaki”in the example of FIG. 11) is loaded. If the selected disc is not foundto be loaded, step S45 is reached again and the above-described processof the step is repeated.

[0144] If in step S47 the selected disc is found to be loaded, step S48is reached. In step S48, the recording/reproduction unit 5 determineswhether or not the loaded disc 1 carries the title (content data)selected in step S41. If the selected title is found recorded on theloaded disc 1, step S53 is reached.

[0145] If in step S48 the loaded disc is not found to contain theselected title, then step S49 is reached. In step S49, therecording/reproduction unit 5 cancels the automatic reproduction modeset by the information control unit 2, and notifies the informationcontrol unit 2 that the selected title is not found on the loaded disc.In step S50, the information control unit 2 receives the notice from therecording/reproduction unit 5 and causes the display unit 9 to displayan error message screen 101 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0146] The message informs the user that the designated title (contentdata) has been deleted from the disc 1.

[0147] After step S50, control is returned to step S45 and thesubsequent steps are repeated as described above.

[0148] If in step S42 any title recorded on the loaded disc is found tobe selected, step S51 is reached. In step S51, the information controlunit 2 determines whether or not the recording/reproduction unit 5 iscurrently reproducing any other title. If no other title is found beingreproduced, then step S53 is reached. If some other title is found beingreproduced in step S51, then the information control unit 2 goes to stepS52 and causes the recording/reproduction unit 5 to stop the ongoingreproduction of that title.

[0149] In step S53, the recording/reproduction unit 5 under control ofthe information control unit 2 reproduces the title selected by theuser. Specifically, the recording/reproduction unit 5 starts reproducingthe content data corresponding to the title information (“26, Title A,Nov. 30, 1999” in this example) selected on the title list screen 71shown in FIG. 9.

[0150] As described, when loaded with the disc 1, the disc informationmay be displayed in list form so that the user may specify a desiredtitle out of the listed titles in simple operations. If the userdesignates any title to be found on an unloaded disc, the relevantcartridge ID is indicated to prompt the user to load the selected disc.In turn, the user can readily search through the visibly indicatedcartridge IDs of the discs at hand for the cartridge ID identifying thedisc containing the title to be reproduced.

[0151] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13 aresteps detailing a search process as another example of step S9 in FIG.4.

[0152] Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 has pushed theTool button 57 on the library list screen 51 in FIG. 6. In that case,the information control unit 2, given the user's instruction, causes alibrary list tool menu 121 as shown in FIG. 14. The tool menu 121includes such user-selectable items as “Close,” “Search for Title,”“Select and Delete Entries from List,” and “Set Entry Mode.”

[0153] It is assumed here that the user selects the item “Search forTitle” using the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 in FIG. 14. Theinformation control unit 2 then goes to step S61 of FIG. 13, and causesthe display unit 9 to display a search condition setting screen 131 asshown in FIG. 15 based on the user's instruction. The search conditionsetting screen 131 includes a search condition setting area 132, acursor 133, a Start Search button 134, a Cancel button 135, a Cancel Allbutton 136, an OK button 137, and a Back button 138.

[0154] The search condition setting area 132 includes items “ViewingStatus,” “Period,” “Keyword,” and “Search Method,” any of which may beset as desired by the user. The buttons 134 through 138 may be operatedselectively by the user. Operating the Start Search button 134 starts asearch under currently set search conditions; operating the Cancelbutton 135 cancels the search; operating the Cancel All button 136cancels all search conditions that may have been established; operatingthe OK button 137 permits setting of the item selected by the cursor133; and operating the Back button 138 terminates the search conditionsetting screen 131 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG.6).

[0155] Illustratively, if the user selects the item “Viewing Status”using the cursor 133 on the search condition setting screen 131 in FIG.15 and pushes the OK button 137, the information control unit 2 causes apull-down menu 141 such as one shown in FIG. 16 to appear in accordancewith the user's instruction. This pull-down menu 141 has items“Unspecified” and “Unwatched,” any of which may be selected by use of acursor 142.

[0156] If the user selects the item “Period” using the cursor 133 on thesearch condition setting screen 131 in FIG. 15 and pushes the OK button137, the information control unit 2 causes a pull-down menu 151 such asone shown in FIG. 17 to appear in accordance with the user'sinstruction. This pull-down menu 151 has items “Unspecified” and“Specified,” any of which may be selected by use of a cursor 152.

[0157] Suppose that, with the pull-down menu 151 being displayed, theuser selects the item “Specified” by use of the cursor 152 as shown inFIG. 18. In that case, an input area 161 is set on active display sothat the user may input a month and a year into the area.

[0158] Returning to step S62 of FIG. 13, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has set search conditions and startedthe search. That is, the information control unit 2 determines whetheror not the items in the search condition setting area 132 of the searchcondition setting screen 131 have any search conditions set therein bythe user before the Start Search button 134 is pushed. The informationcontrol unit 2 waits for any search condition to be set and for thesearch to be started.

[0159] If in step S62 the information control unit 2 determines thatsearch conditions have been set and that the start of search has beendesignated, then step S63 is reached. In step S63, the informationcontrol unit 2 causes the search unit 3 to search for the informationthat matches the search conditions established by the user. The searchunit 3 under control of the information control unit 2 causes thecurrent disc information management unit 6 and storage informationmanagement unit 7 to search for the information specified by the userand to send the result of the search to the information control unit 2.

[0160] In step S64, the information control unit 2 causes the displayunit 9 to display a search result screen 171 as shown in FIG. 19 on thebasis of the search result supplied from the search unit 3. The searchresult screen 171 includes a search result display area 172, a cursor173, an unwatched mark 174, a Close button 175, a Search Conditionbutton 176, an OK button 177, and a Back button 178.

[0161] The search result display area 172 gives the number of titlesdetected, along with a list of cartridge IDs, title numbers, titlenames, and recording dates derived from the search result acquired fromthe search unit 3. The cursor 173 is shown highlighting the searchresult “0134, 26, Title A, Nov. 30, 1999” in the displayed list. Theunwatched mark 174 indicates that the content data to which the mark isattached have yet to be watched.

[0162] The buttons 175 through 178 are each operated selectively by theuser. Operating the Close button 175 terminates the search result screen171 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG. 6) again;operating the Search Condition button 176 causes a search settingconfirmation screen 191 (FIG. 20) to appear; operating the OK button 177displays the title list submenu 81 (FIG. 10A or 10B); and operating theBack button 178 terminates the search result screen 171 and replaces itwith the library list screen 51 again.

[0163] As described, the user can easily search for the titleinformation that matches the desired conditions. The unwatched mark 174attached to the title information yet to be watched helps the userverify a viewing history of the titles with ease.

[0164] Illustratively, if the user pushes the Search Condition button176 on the search condition screen 171, the information control unit 2causes the display unit 9 to display the search setting confirmationscreen 191 as shown in FIG. 20 in accordance with the user'sinstruction. The search setting confirmation screen 191 includes asearch condition display area 192 indicating the search conditions beingset, and a Close button 193. The search condition display area 192 showssuch search conditions as viewing status, a period, keywords, and asearch method. The Back button 193 is operated selectively by the userwishing to return to the search result screen 171 (FIG. 19).

[0165] The search setting confirmation screen 191 thus allows the userto reconfirm the search conditions that have been set, even after thesearch is completed.

[0166] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 21 aresteps detailing a deletion process as another example of step S9 in FIG.4.

[0167] Suppose that the user selects the item “Select and Delete Entriesfrom List” using the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 shown in FIG. 14.In step S71, the information control unit 2, given the user'sinstruction, outputs to the display unit 9 the current informationacquired from the current disc information management unit 6 and thedisc information obtained from the storage information management unit7. The display unit 9 displays the received information in the form of aselected list entry deletion screen.

[0168]FIG. 22 depicts a display example of the selected list entrydeletion screen 201. This screen 201 includes a deletion setting area202, a cursor 203, check boxes 204, a Finalize button 205, a Cancelbutton 206, a View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207, a Select All button208, a Cancel Selection button 209, an OK button 210, and a Back button211.

[0169] The deletion setting area 202 gives a list of cartridge IDs, discnames, and remaining disc capacities derived from the disc informationacquired from the current disc information management unit 6 and fromthe storage information management unit 7. The cursor 203 is shownhighlighting the disc information “0104, *** Special 1, 0.2 GB” in thedisplayed list.

[0170] The buttons 205 through 211 are each operated selectively by theuser. Operating the Finalize button 205 finalizes the disc informationto be deleted; operating the Cancel button 206 terminates the selectedlist entry deletion screen 201 and replaces it with the library list 51(FIG. 6); operating the View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207 displays alist of disc information to be deleted; operating the Select All button208 selects all disc information for deletion; operating the CancelSelection button 209 cancels the selection being made; operating the OKbutton 210 selects the disc information to be deleted; and operating theBack button 211 terminates the selected list entry deletion screen 201and replaces it with the library list 51 again.

[0171] If the user selects a particular item using the cursor 203 in thedisplayed list on the selected list entry deletion screen 201 and pushesthe OK button 210, the information control unit 2 checks the check box204 of the selected item in accordance with the user's instruction. Ifthe user pushes the View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207, theinformation control unit 2, given the user's instruction, causes thedisplay unit 9 to display only the disc information whose check boxesare being checked at that point. The selected list entry deletion screen201 is switched to a display shown in FIG. 23, the new display giving alist of the selected disc information only. On this selected list entrydeletion screen 201, a Display All button 212 is shown substituting forthe View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207 (FIG. 22). The button 212 maybe operated selectively by the user wishing to return to the selectedlist entry deletion screen 201 of FIG. 22.

[0172] When the user pushes the Finalize button 205 on the selected listentry deletion screen 201 of FIG. 22 or 23, the information control unit2, given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 221 for deleting selected entries from the list as shownin FIG. 24.

[0173] The dialog screen 221 of FIG. 24 displays a message asking theuser to confirm his or her intention to delete the selected discinformation from the list. Also displayed are items “Yes,” “No” and“Cancel,” as well as an OK button 223 and a Back button 224. Any one ofthese items may be selected by the user. Selecting the item “Yes”deletes the selected disc information; selecting the item “No” leavesthe disc information undeleted; and selecting the item “Cancel”terminates the dialog screen 221 and replaces it with the library listscreen 51 (FIG. 6). (In the example of FIG. 24, the item “No” is beingselected by the cursor 222.). The buttons 223 and 224 are each operatedas needed by the user. Operating the OK button 223 decides on theselected items, and operating the Back button 224 terminates the dialogscreen 221 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 again.

[0174] If the user selects the item “Delete Entries from List” on thesubmenu 61 of FIG. 8A using the cursor 62, the information control unit2 in step S71 of FIG. 21 causes the display unit 9 to display a dialogscreen 231 for deleting entries from the list as shown in FIG. 25 inaccordance with the user's instruction.

[0175] The dialog screen 231 of FIG. 25 gives a message asking the userto confirm his or her intention to delete the oldest disc informationfrom the list. Also displayed are items “Yes” and “No,” as well as an OKbutton 233 and a Back button 234. One of the items may be selected bythe user operating a cursor 232. Selecting the item “Yes” deletesthe-oldest disc information, and selecting the item “No” leaves the discinformation undeleted. (In the example of FIG. 25, the item “No” isbeing selected by the cursor 232.) The buttons 233 and 234 are eachoperated selectively by the user. Operating the OK button 223 decides onthe item being selected by the cursor 232, and operating the Back button234 terminates the dialog screen 231 and replaces it with the librarylist screen 51 (FIG. 6).

[0176] In step S72 of FIG. 21, the information control unit 2 determineswhether or not the disc information to be deleted was selected by theuser and has been deleted. More specifically, the information controlunit 2 determines whether or not the user checked the check boxes 204 ofthe disc information to be deleted out of the disc information displayedin the deletion setting area 202 of the selected list entry deletionscreen 201 (FIG. 22), before pushing the Finalize button 205; or whetheror not the user operating the cursor 232 selected the item “Yes” on thedialog screen 231 (FIG. 25) for entry deletion from the list, beforepushing the OK button 233. The information control unit 2 waits for thetarget disc information to be selected and for its execution to bedesignated.

[0177] If in step S72 the disc information to be deleted is found to beselected and the deletion of the selected information finalized, thenstep S73 is reached. In step S73, the information control unit 2 causesthe storage information management unit 7 to delete the disc informationselected by the user. The storage information management unit 7 undercontrol of the information control unit 2 deletes the user-selected discinformation from the storage unit 8.

[0178] As described, the entries of disc information is displayed inlist form so that the user may delete the unnecessary disc informationspecified in simple operations.

[0179] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 26 aresteps detailing a mode setting process as another example of step S9 inFIG. 4.

[0180] Suppose that the user has selected the item “Set Entry Mode” byoperating the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 in the library list ofFIG. 14. In that case, the information control unit 2 in step S81 ofFIG. 26 causes the display unit 9 to display a dialog screen 241 forsetting list entry mode as shown in FIG. 27 in accordance with theuser's instruction.

[0181] The dialog screen 241 of FIG. 27 includes a message prompting theuser to set the mode in which to make a new disc entry into the listwhen the maximum allowable number of disc entries in the list has beenexhausted. Also included in the dialog screen 241 are items “Overwrite”and “Do Not Overwrite,” as well as an OK button 243 and a Back button244. Either of the two items is selected by the user positioning acursor 242 to the desired item. Selecting the item “Overwrite” causesthe existing disc information to be overwritten starting from the oldestentry, and selecting the item “Do Not Overwrite” cancels the overwriteoperation. (In the example of FIG. 27, the item “Do Not Overwrite” isbeing selected by the cursor 242.) The buttons 243 and 244 are eachoperated selectively by the user. Operating the OK button 243 decides onthe item being selected by the cursor 242, and operating the Back button244 terminates the dialog screen 241 and replaces it with the librarylist screen 51 (FIG. 6) again.

[0182] In step S82, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot the user has selected the entry mode, i.e., whether or not the userhas selected the item “Overwrite” or “Do Not Overwrite” using the cursor242 on the dialog screen 241 for list entry mode setting, before pushingthe OK button 243. The information control unit 2 waits for the mode tobe selected.

[0183] If in step S82 the mode is found to be selected, step S83 isreached. In step S83, the information control unit 2 causes the storageinformation management unit 7 to establish the user-selected mode anddisplays a setting-complete message on the display unit 9.

[0184] For example, if the user selected the item “Overwrite” using thecursor 242 and has pushed the OK button 243, the information controlunit 2, given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 todisplay a message screen 251 as shown in FIG. 28A. The message screen251 informs the user that when the maximum allowable number of discentries in the list is exhausted, the existing information will beoverwritten with new disc entries.

[0185] If the user selected the item “Do Not Overwrite” using the cursor242 and has pushed the OK button 243, the information control unit 2,given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display amessage screen 252 as depicted in FIG. 28B. The message, screen 252informs the user that even if the maximum allowable number of discentries in the list is exhausted, the existing information will not beoverwritten with new disc entries.

[0186] Where the “Do Not Overwrite” mode is in effect, the existinginformation will not be overwritten automatically even if the list isexhausted. In that case, the information control unit 2 causes thedisplay unit 9 to display a message screen 261 shown in FIG. 29 tellingthe user that the capacity of the storage unit 8 has now been exhausted.With no more disc entries admitted into the list, the user is urged todelete unnecessary disc information.

[0187] Returning to FIG. 4, either step S9 or the negative result of thecheck in step S8 is followed by step S10. In step S10, the informationcontrol unit 2 determines whether or not a request is made to unload thedisc 1. If no request is found to be made for unloading the disc 1, stepS13 is reached. If a request is found to be made for unloading the disc1, step S11 is reached. In step S11, the information control unit 2causes the current disc information management unit 6 to read thecurrent information from the loaded disc 1. That is, the informationcontrol unit 2 acquires the latest information in step S11 consideringthat the information on the disc 1 has been updated following recordingor editing operations.

[0188] In step S12, the information control unit 2 causes the storageinformation management unit 7 to perform a duplicate storage processbased on the current information acquired from the current discinformation management unit 6.

[0189] Details of the duplicate storage process will now be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 30.

[0190] In step S91, the storage information management unit 7 stores theTOC, part of the acquired current information, into the temp TOC (block104) of the temp area in the storage unit 8. In step S92, the storageinformation management unit 7 stores the block that contains changeddisc information into the temp disc block (block 105) of the temp area.As mentioned above, the disc information is found in either the block 1or the block 2 of the storage area; the information is read from one ofthe blocks and stored into the temp disc block.

[0191] In step S93, the storage information management unit 7 determineswhether or not the number of titles included in the changed discinformation is 100 or less. If the number of titles is found to be 100or less, step S94 is reached. In step S94, the storage informationmanagement unit 7 stores the title information into the temp title 1(block 106) of the temp area.

[0192] If in step S93 the number of titles included in the changed discinformation is not found to be 100 or less, i.e., if the title count is101 or higher, then step S95 is reached. In step S95, the storageinformation management unit 7 stores the title information constituting100 titles into the temp title 1 of the temp area. Step S95 is followedby step S96 in which the title information constituting the excesstitles (from the 101st title on) is stored into the temp title 2 (block107).

[0193] Step S94 or step S96 is followed by step S97 in which the storageinformation management unit 7 stores location information on the storeddata into the temp header (block 103) of the temp area. In step S98, Thestorage information management unit 7 reads the TOC from the temp TOC(block 104) in the temp area and writes the retrieved TOC to the TOC(block 0) in the storage area. (That is, the temp TOC is copied from thetemp area to the TOC of the storage area.)

[0194] In step S99, the storage information management unit 7, based onthe data location information held in the temp header, copies the tempdisc block (block 105) in the temp area to a disc block (block 1 or 2)of the storage area.

[0195] In step S100, the storage information management unit 7 inkeeping with the data location information held in the temp headercopies the temp title 1 in the temp area to a title block (e.g., block103) in the storage area. If the temp title 2 in the temp area containsthe extra title information, that information is copied to another titleblock (e.g., block 104) in the storage area.

[0196] In step S101, the storage information management unit 7 clearsthe temp header in the temp area. From step S101, control is returned tostep S13 of FIG. 4.

[0197] In step S13, the information control unit 2 determines whether ornot the digital video recorder is turned off in response to the user'soperation. If the apparatus is not found to be switched off, step S8 isreached again and the subsequent steps are repeated. If in step S13power is found removed from the apparatus, the process is terminated.

[0198] As described, the digital video recorder embodying this inventionhas the storage area and temp area established in the storage unit 8.When the loaded disc is unloaded, the information written to the disc istemporarily stored into the temp area. The information is later copiedto the storage area. When copying of the information to the storage areahas all been completed, the temp header in the temp area is cleared.Next time the disc information is read from the storage unit 8, areference is made to the temp header to see whether its information hasbeen cleared. If the temp header is found to be cleared, that means theinformation held in the storage area is valid. If the temp header is notfound cleared, that means the information retained in the temp area isvalid. In either case, the valid information is always retrieved fromthe storage area or from the temp area. This ensures data consistency.

[0199] Because the disc information and title information held in thestorage unit 8 are displayed in list form, the user finds it easy tosearch for desired information, give instructions for reproduction, orsort information.

[0200] In the above processes, the library list is displayed in responseto the user's instruction. Alternatively, the library list may bedisplayed automatically whenever the digital video recorder is switchedon, regardless of the user's instruction.

[0201] In this embodiment, not only the list of disc information andtitle information but also more detailed information may be displayed.For example, if the user pushes the Tool button 76 on the title listscreen 71 (FIG. 9), the information control unit 2, given the user'sinstruction, causes the display unit 9 to display the title list toolmenu 271 as shown in FIG. 31. The tool menu 271 includes user-selectableitems “Close” and “Disc Information.”

[0202] Illustratively, if the user selects the item “Disc Information”using a cursor 272 on the tool menu 271 of FIG. 31, the informationcontrol unit 2 outputs to the display unit 9 detailed informationbranching from the disc information based on the user's instruction. Inturn, the output unit 9 displays a disc information dialog screen 281 asshown in FIG. 32. The dialog screen 281 includes detailed information282 branching from the disc information, a Close button 283, and a Backbutton 284.

[0203] The detailed information 282 includes a disc name, a title count,a disc ID, recording dates, and a remaining disc storage capacity. Thebuttons 283 and 284 are each operated selectively by the user. Operatingthe Close button 283 or Back button 284 restores the library list screen51 (FIG. 6).

[0204] The dialog screen 281 of FIG. 32 also appears when the item “DiscInformation” is selected in the library list submenu 61 indicated inFIG. 8A.

[0205] In the manner described, not only the list of disc informationand title information but also detailed information can be readilydisplayed.

[0206] In the foregoing description, the invention was shown applied tothe digital video recorder which has the disc 1 loaded in its drive,which reads disc information and title information from the loaded disc,and which stores the retrieved information successively into the storageunit 8. However, that digital video recorder is only an example and isnot limitative of the invention. The invention may also be appliedextensively to other electronic apparatuses capable of being loaded withthe disc 1.

[0207] It was also shown that the disc information and title informationare written directly to the disc 1. The items of information thuswritten are associated with previously recorded disc IDs on the disc forinformation management purposes. Alternatively, apart from the discinformation and title information written to the disc 1, managementinformation unique to each digital video recorder (or to each user) maybe input to a built-in HDD (hard disc drive) of the apparatus formanagement purposes.

[0208] Where no disc 1 is loaded in the digital video recorder, theabove-described embodiment displays a message prompting the user to loadthe selected disc. Alternatively, content data may be retainedtemporarily on the HDD. The content data stored for the moment are thenretrieved and written to the disc 1 that is subsequently loaded.

[0209] In a home network environment according to the invention where aplurality of AV apparatuses are interconnected and where the selecteddisc is loaded into one of the configured apparatuses, it is possible tocheck the other apparatuses to see whether or not any one of them hascontent data to be recorded to the loaded disc.

[0210] What follows is a description of such an AV system practiced as asecond embodiment of this invention. In the description that follows,the component parts which have their functionally equivalentcounterparts included in the digital video recorder of the firstembodiment are designated by like reference numerals or characters, andtheir descriptions are omitted where redundant.

[0211]FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the AV system embodying thisinvention. In that AV system, digital video recorders 301-1 through301-3 are interconnected via a network 302 and are capable of havingdiscs 1-1 through 1-3 loaded therein respectively.

[0212] The digital video recorders 301-1 through 301-3 reproduce contentdata such as pictures and sounds from the discs 1-1 through 1-3; recordcontent data to these discs; or each store temporarily into a hard discdrive (HDD) 330 (FIG. 34) the content data to be recorded to a disc sothat when the selected disc 1 is loaded, the stored content data may beretrieved from the HDD 330 and recorded to that disc.

[0213] Each of the digital video recorders 301-1 through 301-3 admitsfrom the loaded discs 1-1 through 1-3 management information specific toeach recorder (local disc IDs, local disc names, etc.) to create a discmanagement table. Disc management is carried out on the basis of suchdisc management tables (details will be discussed later).

[0214] The network 302 may be of a wired type (based on IEEE (Instituteof Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 or USB (Universal SerialBus) standards) or a wireless type (based on Bluetooth (trademark)criteria). The network 302 may also be the Internet or some othernetwork arrangement.

[0215] In the description that follows, the digital video recorders301-1 through 301-3 may be simply referred to as the digital videorecorder 301 if there is no specific need to distinguish between them.Likewise, the discs 1-1 through 1-3 may be simply called the disc 1 ifthere is no need to distinguish between them.

[0216]FIG. 34 is a block diagram presenting electrical connections inthe digital video recorder 301.

[0217] In the setup of FIG. 34, a tuner 312 receives TV broadcast wavesinput via an antenna 311 and demodulates the broadcast waves into acomposite video signal and an analog audio signal for output to a lineselector 316. A V input terminal 313 admits the composite video signalfrom the outside; an S input terminal 314 receives a component videosignal derived from what is known as YC separation; and an audio inputterminal 315 admits the audio signal. The signals input to theseterminals are forwarded to the line selector 316.

[0218] The line selector 316, based on the user's changeover settings,selects the specified video and audio signals out of those coming fromthe tuner 312 and from the terminals 313 through 315. The selected audiosignal is output to an audio A/D converter 322, and the selected videosignal is sent to a Y/C separation circuit 317.

[0219] The Y/C separation circuit 317 separates the luminance componentfrom the chrominance component in the supplied video signal forconversion into component signals. The converted component signals areoutput to an NTSC (National Television System Committee) decoder 318. Ifthe supplied video signal is the component video signal coming from theS input terminal 314, no separation process will be carried out becausethe luminance and chrominance components have already been separated inthe signal.

[0220] The NTSC decoder 318 performs such processes as A/D (analog todigital) conversion and chroma coding on the video signal in which theluminance component has been separated from the chrominance component,and outputs the resulting digital component data (simply called thevideo data hereunder) to a pre-video signal processing circuit 320. TheNTSC decoder 318 further supplies a sync control circuit 319 with aclock generated on the basis of a horizontal sync signal in the inputvideo signal, with a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signalderived from a synchronous separation process, and with a fielddiscrimination signal. The sync control circuit 319 converts the syncsignals from the NTSC decoder 318 into timing signals that addressvarious circuits. These timing signals are fed to their correspondingcircuits including an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) video encoder321.

[0221] The pre-video signal processing circuit 320 carries out diversevideo signal processes including filtering on the input video data. Thevideo data thus processed are supplied to the MPEG video encoder or to apost-video signal processing circuit 333.

[0222] The MPEG video encoder 321 subjects the video data to MPEGencoding so as to generate an MPEG video stream. The generated MPEGvideo stream is fed to a multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326.The MPEG compression method used here is only an example; some othersuitable compression scheme may be adopted alternatively.

[0223] The audio A/D converter 322 converts the audio signal coming fromthe line selector 316 into digital data which are then sent either to anMPEG audio encoder 323 or to an audio D/A converter 338. The MPEG audioencoder 323 subjects the input audio data to MPEG encoding in order togenerate an MPEG audio stream. The MPEG audio stream thus generated issupplied to the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. As withthe video data, the MPEG compression method used here is only anexample; some other suitable compression scheme may be adoptedalternatively.

[0224] A digital input/output terminal 324 is connected illustrativelyto an external IRD (integrated receiver-decoder) via an IEEE 1394interface or other suitable digital interface arrangements. From theexternal device, a transport stream (TS) that is subject to MPEG systemrequirements is input through the terminal 324. A digital interface 325provides data format conversion between the data transmission format ofthe digital video recorder 301 and that of the digital interface. Morespecifically, the digital interface 325 converts in format the transportstream coming from the digital input/output terminal 324, and feeds theconverted transport stream to the multiplexing/separation/selectioncircuit 326.

[0225] At the time of recording, the multiplexing/separation/selectioncircuit 326 packetizes the MPEG video stream coming from the MPEG videoencoder 321, the MPEG audio stream from the MPEG audio encoder 323, andvarious kinds of control information fed from a system controller 327;and multiplexes the packets into a transport stream subject to MPEGsystem requirements. If a transport stream is input via the digitalinput/output terminal 324, the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit326 updates control data as needed before outputting the transportstream.

[0226] At the time of reproduction, themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326 extracts PES (packetizedelementary stream) packets from the transport stream retrieved from theHDD 330 and supplies the extracted packets to an MPEG AV decoder 332. Ifa transport stream is input through the digital input/output terminal324, the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326 updates controldata as needed and outputs the TS retrieved from the HDD 330.

[0227] The system controller 327, based on the input signalscorresponding to the user's operation performed on the input unit 11,carries out suitable control programs held in a program memory 328Bwithin a memory 328. Through the program execution, the systemcontroller 327 generates control data to be multiplexed into a transportstream, controls drive controllers 329 and 331, and controls the digitalvideo recorder 301 as a whole.

[0228] The system controller 327, also based on the signals reflectingthe user's operation performed on the input unit 11, references orupdates a data management memory 328A in the memory 328; generates filesystem management information for the HDD 330 and transport stream datamanagement information, before recording the generated managementinformation to a data management information storage area 361 (FIG. 36);records the transport stream to a real data storage area 362; or readsinformation or data as needed from the data management informationstorage area 361 or from the real data storage area 362. The systemcontroller 327 gains access to the HDD 330 or to the transport stream inaccordance with the file system management information and datamanagement information. These items of information are managed in theform of a disc management table (FIG. 37) in the data management memory328A.

[0229] The memory 328 is illustratively an electrically rewritablenonvolatile memory made up of the data management memory 328A andprogram memory 328B. The data management memory 328A accommodates thedisc management table, to be described later with reference to FIG. 37.The program memory 328B holds the control programs necessary for thedigital video recorder 301 to carry out various processes.

[0230] At the time of recording, the drive controller 329 writes to theHDD 330 the transport stream input successively from themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. At the time ofreproduction, the drive controller 329 reads the transport stream fromthe HDD 330 and feeds the retrieved transport stream to themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326.

[0231] The drive controller 331, upon recording, writes to the disc 1the transport stream input successively from themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. Upon reproduction, thedrive controller 331 reads the transport stream from the disc 1 andfeeds the retrieved transport stream to themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. The drive controller 331also reads the disc ID and disc information from the disc 1 and sendswhat is retrieved to the system controller 327.

[0232] The MPEG AV decoder 332 separates the input PES packets into MPEGvideo data and MPEG audio data which are subjected to an MPEG decodingprocess each. Following the decoding process, the MPEG AV decoder 332supplies base-band video data to the post-video signal processingcircuit 333 and base-band audio data to the audio D/A converter 338.

[0233] The post-video signal processing circuit 333 performs suchprocesses as switchover between the video data coming from the MPEG AVdecoder 332 and the video data from the pre-video signal processingcircuit 320, superimposing of video data, and filtering, before feedingthe processed data to an OSD (on-screen display) unit 334. The OSD unit334 generates graphics for video display, superimposes the generatedgraphics onto the video data, and supplies the processed data to an NTSCencoder 335.

[0234] The NTSC encoder 335 converts the input video data into digitalcomposite data prior to a D/A conversion process whereby an analogcomposite signal is generated. The analog composite signal is output tothe display unit 9 (FIG. 35) through a V output terminal 336.Alternatively, the NTSC encoder 335 subjects the input video data(digital component data) to D/A conversion so as to generate an analogcomponent signal. The analog component signal is output to the displayunit 9 through an S output terminal 337.

[0235] The audio D/A converter 338 selectively inputs either the audiodata from the MPEG AV decoder 332 or the audio data from the audio A/Dconverter 322, and subjects the input audio data to D/A conversion inorder to generate an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal isoutput to the speakers 10 (FIG. 35) through an audio output terminal339.

[0236] With the digital video recorder 301, as described above, variousvideo signals are input from the tuner 312, from the input terminals 313and 314, or from the digital interface 325. At the time of recording,one of these signals is selectively turned into the transport streamwhich is written to the real data storage area 362 (FIG. 36) on the HDD330. Upon reproduction, the transport stream output from the HDD 330 isdecoded and output through the V output terminal 336 or S outputterminal 337. Alternatively the TS is output as digital data through thedigital input/output terminal 324.

[0237]FIG. 35 is a block diagram outlining the functions of the systemcontroller 327. These functions are implemented when the systemcontroller 327 executes appropriate control programs held in the programmemory 328B.

[0238] An information control unit 351, based on the input signalscorresponding to the user's operation performed on the input unit 11,controls the current disc information management unit 353 and storageinformation management unit 354 and supplies the input content data (TS)to the current disc information management unit 353 or to the storageinformation management unit 354. The information control unit 351further causes a communication unit 352 to conduct communications withother digital video recorders.

[0239] The information control unit 351 references the data managementmemory 328A in accordance with the disc ID of the disc 1 sent from thecurrent disc information management unit 353. In so doing, theinformation control unit 351 retrieves from the disc management tablecertain information corresponding to the disc ID, or updates the discmanagement table itself.

[0240] The current disc information management unit 353 acquires thedisc ID and disc information from the loaded disc 1 and feeds what isacquired to the information control unit 351. The storage informationmanagement unit 354 writes to the HDD 330 the data managementinformation acquired from the information control unit 351, or readsdata management information from the HDD 330 and supplies what isretrieved to the information control unit 351.

[0241] Whereas the disc ID for the disc 1 was described above aspreviously recorded (non-changing ID) in connection with the firstembodiment of this invention, the unchanging aspect of disc IDs is notmandatory for the second embodiment. The user of the second embodimentmay decide on a desired ID and attach it to the disc 1. In such a case,the user-selected ID is written to a user-writable area on the disc 1.

[0242] The HDD 330 is constituted illustratively by a data managementinformation storage area 361 and a real data storage area 362 as shownin FIG. 36. The data management information placed in the datamanagement information storage area 361 is associated with the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A as well as with thereal data (e.g., TS) held in the real data storage area 362.

[0243]FIG. 37 schematically depicts relations between the datamanagement memory 328A and the HDD 330.

[0244] As shown in FIG. 37, the disc management table retained in thedata management memory 328A has disc names, additional information,flags, and recording IDs stored in association with the disc IDs of thediscs 1. The disc ID recorded on each disc 1 is an identifier attachedto the disc for identification purposes. Likewise the disc name, alsorecorded on each disc 1, is the name given to the disc in question.

[0245] The additional information on each disc illustratively includes adata format, a creator's name, dates of data creation, a remainingrecordable capacity, a local disc ID, a local disc name, and informationabout titles (i.e., content data) recorded on this disc. The local discID is a disc identifier which differs from the disc ID previouslyrecorded on the disc 1 and which may be furnished to the disc 1 by eachindividual digital video recorder 301. The local disc name is a discname which differs from the disc name previously written on the disc 1and which may be given to the disc 1 by each digital video recorder 301.

[0246] The flag indicates whether or not the content data to be recordedto the disc 1 corresponding to this disc ID are being retained on theHDD 330 of the digital video recorder 301. If the flag is “0,” thatmeans the content data to be recorded to the disc 1 are not stored onthe HDD 330; if the flag is “1,” that means the content data to berecorded to the disc 1 are retained on the HDD 330.

[0247] The recording ID, information recorded only if the flag is “1,”serves as the identifier of the content data to be recorded to the disc1. The HDD 330 manages its content data based on the recording ID. Wherethere exist a plurality of titles of content data to be recorded to thedisc 1, the recording ID subsumes recording priorities. In the exampleof FIG. 37, priorities 1 through 10 are shown established. The number ofpriorities may be changed as needed.

[0248] The data management information held in the data managementinformation storage area 361 includes an entry cluster, a sector number,a file name, a recording date, and a data size stored in associationwith each recording ID linked to the disc management table in the datamanagement memory 328A.

[0249] The entry cluster is a cluster number denoting the location inthe real data storage area 362 of the cluster which contains the leadingdata of the file (content data) corresponding to the recording ID ofinterest. The sector number points to that sector in the real datastorage area 362 which contains a file index of the file in question.The file name represents the target file held in the real data storagearea 362. The recording date indicates the date on which the file inquestion was recorded. The data size denotes the size of all dataincluded in the file of interest.

[0250] That is, the target file is written to the real data storage area362 starting from the cluster whose number is designated by the entrycluster included in the data management information in the datamanagement information storage area 361.

[0251] As described, when the recording ID is determined by the systemcontroller 327, the corresponding file is recorded to the real datastorage area 362. Concurrently, the data management informationassociated with the recording ID in question is written to the datamanagement information storage area 361.

[0252] While the system controller 327 was shown determining recordingIDs in the foregoing description, this is not limitative of theinvention. Alternatively, it is possible to read the entry clustercontaining the desired file from the data management information in thedata management information storage area 361 and to write the retrievedinformation to the disc management table. FIG. 38 shows typicalrelations between the data management memory 328A and the HDD 330, ineffect in the alternative case above. As illustrated, the datamanagement information may be managed in association with entry clusterswithout determining recording IDs.

[0253] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 39 is theroutine process carried out by the digital video recorder of FIG. 35.This process is executed by the system controller 327 carrying outsuitable control programs retrieved from the program memory 328B.

[0254] In step S111, the information control unit 351 causes the currentdisc information management unit 353 to determine whether or not thedisc 1 is being loaded in the recorder. The information control unit 351waits for the disc 1 to be loaded. If in step S1 the disc 1 is found tobe loaded, step S112 is reached. In step S112, the information controlunit 351 causes the current disc management unit 353 to read from theloaded disc 1 its disc ID and disc information (data format, creator'sname, date of data creation, remaining recordable capacity, etc.). Byreferencing the disc management table in the data management memory328A, the information control unit 351 checks to see whether or not thedisc ID read by the current disc information management unit 353 hasalready been recorded.

[0255] In step S113, the information control unit 351 determines whetheror not the disc is one which has been previously loaded, on the basis ofthe result of the check in step S112. More specifically, the informationcontrol unit 351 determines whether or not the disc ID read from thedisc 1 is being stored in the disc management table. If the disc isfound to have been previously loaded, step S114 is reached.

[0256] In step S114, the information control unit 351, based on the discinformation read in step S112, updates the existing information in thedisc management table within the data management memory 328A. If theloaded disc 1 had new content data recorded (added) thereto by someother digital video recorder, the date of data creation and theremaining recordable capacity must have been changed as a result of theadditional recording. Given that possibility, the disc management tableis updated every time the disc 1 is loaded.

[0257] If in step S113 the loaded disc is not found to have been loadedpreviously, i.e., if the disc ID retrieved from the disc 1 is not foundin the disc management table, then step S115 is reached. In step S115,the information control unit 351 adds information to the disc managementtable in the data management memory 328A in keeping with the disc ID andthe disc information retrieved in step S112.

[0258] As described, whenever the disc 1 is loaded, a check is made tosee if the disc in question is a previously loaded one. The discmanagement table is updated in keeping with the result of the check. Asneeded, the user may furnish the disc 1 with a local disc ID and a localdisc name specific to the digital video recorder at hand. These items ofinformation are stored as additional information into the discmanagement table.

[0259] For example, in the disc management table of FIG. 37, the disc 1having a disc ID “0001” is given a disc name “disc A.” On the digitalvideo recorder 301-1, the disc 1 may be supplemented with a local discID “0010” and a local disc name “Father”; on the digital video recorder301-2, the disc 1 may be additionally furnished with a local disc ID“0005” and a local disc name “Papa.”

[0260] When the disc 1 having the disc ID “0001” is loaded into thedigital video recorder 301-1, a reference is made to the disc managementtable (in the data management memory 328A) in accordance with the discID. The reference allows the corresponding additional information (localdisc ID “0010” and local disc name “Father”) to be retrieved from thetable. When the disc 1 having the disc ID “0001” is loaded into thedigital video recorder 301-2, the disc management table is referenced onthe basis of the disc ID. The corresponding additional information(local disc ID “0005” and local disc name “Papa”) is then retrieved fromthe table.

[0261] In the manner described, the local disc ID and local disc nameunique to each digital video recorder are managed using the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A.

[0262]FIG. 40 shows a display example of a disc information screen 371generated on the basis of the disc management table in the datamanagement memory 328A. In the description that follows, the items whichhave their functionally equivalent counterparts included in the librarylist screen 51 of FIG. 6 are designated by like reference numerals, andtheir descriptions are omitted where redundant.

[0263] Unlike the library list screen 51 in FIG. 6, the library listdisplay area 52 on the disc information screen 371 does not show thedisc ID or disc name written to the disc 1. Instead, the library listdisplay area 52 indicates local disc IDs and local disc names which havebeen furnished anew by this digital video recorder 301 and aredistinguished thereby.

[0264] In the example of FIG. 40, a disc 1 having a disc ID “0007” isfurnished with a local disc ID “0001”; and a disc 1 having a disc ID“0104” is provided with a local disc ID “0002” and, apart from the discname “*** Special 1” (see FIG. 6), is supplemented with a local discname “Documentary.” Likewise, each disc 1 with a different disc ID isfurnished with a local disc ID and a local disc name which have beenconceived and provided by the user as desired.

[0265] The display sequence setting area 55 shows items “Number,”“Name,” “Remaining Capacity,” and “Local.” The displayed information issorted by one of these items which is selected by the user. In theexample of FIG. 40, the displayed information is shown sorted by localdisc ID.

[0266] As described, the disc IDs written previously on the discs 1 andlocal disc IDs attached anew to the discs 1 by individual digital videorecorders 301 may be displayed side by side, in mixed fashion.Alternatively, the disc IDs alone may be listed as shown in FIG. 6. Asanother alternative, the local disc IDs alone may be displayed (notshown). As a further alternative, the disc names recorded previously onthe discs 1 and local disc names given anew to the discs 1 by individualdigital video recorders 301 may be displayed in mixed fashion.

[0267] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 41 is thecontent recording process carried out by the digital video recorder 301of FIG. 35.

[0268] In step S121, the information control unit 351 determines whetheror not the user has requested recording of content data. The informationcontrol unit 351 waits for the recording to be requested. If in stepS121 the recording of content data is found requested, step S122 isreached. In step S122, the information control unit 351 references thedisc management table in the data management memory 328A and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display a content recording setting screen 401 basedon the referenced table, as shown in FIG. 42. The content recordingsetting screen 401 includes a list display area 402, a loaded disc mark403, a cursor 404, an OK button 405, and a Cancel button 406.

[0269] The list display area 402 gives a list of local disc IDs,cartridge IDs (part of the disc IDs written on discs 1), and local discnames derived from the disc information held in the disc managementtable. In this example, the cursor 404 is shown highlighting the discinformation “0003 (local disc ID), 0134 (cartridge ID), My Favorite ***(local disc name).” The loaded disc mark 403 indicates that the disc 1having the disc information “0003, 0134, My Favorite ***” is beingloaded.

[0270] The buttons 405 and 406 are each selected by the user operatingthe input unit 11. Selecting the OK button 405 confirms the recording tothe disc 1 corresponding to the disc information selected by-the cursor404. Selecting the Cancel button 406 cancels the recording.

[0271] Returning to step S123 in FIG. 41, the information control unit351 causes the recording/reproduction unit 5 to determine whether or notthe disc 1 to which to record the content data is being loaded.Illustratively, it is assumed that the disc 1 having the discinformation “0003, 0134, My Favorite ***” is loaded as indicated by theloaded disc mark 403 on the content recording setting screen 401 of FIG.42. A check is then made to see whether or not the recording to thatdisc 1 is requested.

[0272] If in step S123 the disc 1 to which to record the content data isfound loaded, step S124 is reached. In step S124, therecording/reproduction unit 5 records to the loaded disc 1 the contentdata supplied from the information control unit 351.

[0273] If in step S123 the disc 1 to which to record the content data isnot found loaded, i.e., if a request is made to record the content datato a disc other than the one indicated by the loaded disc mark 403 onthe content recording setting screen 401 of FIG. 42, then step S125 isreached. In step S125, the information control unit 351 updates the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A. More specifically,with the content data stored temporarily on the HDD 330, the informationcontrol unit 351 determines a recording ID linked to the data managementinformation storage unit 361 of the HDD 330. With the recording IDestablished in the disc management table, the flag is set to “1.”

[0274] In step S125, the information control unit 351 causes the displayunit 9 to display as needed a dialog screen 411 such as one shown inFIG. 43. The dialog screen 411 indicates a “Yes” button 412 and a “No”button 413, along with a message prompting the user to determine whetheror not the content data are to be recorded temporarily to the HDD 330.The user selects either the “Yes” button 412 to let the content data berecorded temporarily to the HDD 330, or the “No” button 413 to cancelthe recording.

[0275] That is, when the recording disc is not loaded, the user isallowed to make one of two choices: either to have the content datarecorded temporarily on the hard disc, or to cancel the recording.

[0276] If the “Yes” button 412 is selected by the user, step S126 isreached in which the information control unit 351 causes the storageinformation management unit 354 to record (store) temporarily thecontent data of interest to the HDD 330. The content data to be recordedeventually to the selected disc are then recorded for the moment to thereal data storage area 362 of the HDD 330.

[0277] In step S127, the information control unit 351 updates theapplicable additional information (date of data creation, remainingrecordable capacity, etc.) in the disc management table within the datamanagement memory 328A following the recording of new content data. Whenstep S126 has been carried out, the information control unit 351 recordsthe appropriate entry cluster (i.e., storage location in the real datastorage area 362), sector number, file name, and data size as datamanagement information into the data management information storage area361.

[0278] If the “No” button 412 is selected on the dialog screen 411 ofFIG. 43, the information control unit 351 causes another dialog screen421 to appear as shown in FIG. 44. This dialog screen 421 indicates amessage prompting the user to load a particular disc, along with thedisc name 422 of that disc (e.g., “0134, *** Hamasaki,” with the localdisc name “My Favorite ***”).

[0279] The user is then able to easily find the target disc to be loadedby looking up the cartridge ID (“0134” in this case) visibly indicatedon each disc 1. When the appropriate disc 1 is loaded, step S124 of FIG.41 is reached and the subsequent process is carried out as discussedabove. The user selects the “Cancel” button 423 when canceling therecording both to the HDD 330 and to the disc 1.

[0280] As described, if recording of specific content data is carriedout by the user and if the applicable disc to which to make therecording is not loaded, the content data in question are storedtemporarily on the HDD 330. In that case, the disc ID and the contentdata (recording ID) are associated with each other when recorded to thedisc management table. When the appropriate disc 1 is later loaded, thedisc ID is retrieved from the loaded disc 1 and the disc managementtable is referenced on the basis of the retrieved disc ID. If thereference to the table reveals that the content data associated with thedisc ID are being retained on the HDD 330, either the user is notifiedthereof as needed, or the content data are automatically recorded to thedisc 1 from the HDD 330.

[0281] What follows is a description, with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 45, of the recording process that takes place when an appropriatedisc 1 to which to record content data is loaded following theabove-described temporary storage of the content data in question ontothe HDD 330 preparatory to their recording to the disc 1.

[0282] In step S141, the information control unit 351 causes the currentdisc information management unit 353 to determine whether or not thedisc 1 is loaded into the recorder. The information control unit 351waits for the disc 1 to be loaded. If in step S141 the disc 1 is foundto be loaded, step S142 is reached. In step S142, the informationcontrol unit 351 causes the current disc information management unit 353to read the disc ID and disc information from the loaded disc 1.

[0283] In step S143, the information control unit 351 references thedisc management table in the data management memory 328A on the basis ofthe disc ID retrieved in step S142 by the current disc informationmanagement unit 353, in order to determine whether or not the loadeddisc 1 is associated with the content data held temporarily on the HDD330. More specifically, if the flag corresponding to the retrieved discID is found set to “1” in the disc management table, that is indicativethat the content data to be recorded to the disc 1 are retained on theHDD 330. For example, if the retrieved disc ID is “0002,” the flagcorresponding to that disc ID is “1” in the disc management table shownin FIG. 37. This allows the information control unit 351 to determinethat the content data to be recorded to the loaded disc 1 reside on theHDD 330.

[0284] If in step S143 the loaded disc 1 is not found to be the discwith which the content data temporarily recorded on the HDD 330 areassociated, step S148 is reached. If in step S143 the loaded disc 1 isfound to be the disc that the content data temporarily retained on theHDD 330 are associated with, then step S144 is reached. In step S144,the information control unit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 431 as depicted in FIG. 46.

[0285] The dialog screen 431 indicates a message informing the user thatthe HDD 330 retains data to be recorded to the loaded disc. Alsoindicated along with the message are a Record button 432, a Deletebutton 433, and a Change button 434, any one of which may be selected bythe user. Selecting the Record button 432 causes the content data inquestion to be read from the HDD 330 and recorded to the disc 1;selecting the Delete button 433 deletes the content data from the HDD330; and selecting the Change button 434 allows the content data to berecorded from the HDD 330 to a different disc.

[0286] Returning to step S145 in FIG. 45, the information control unit351 determines which of the three buttons (Record button 432, Deletebutton 433, and Change button 434) is selected by the user on the dialogscreen 431 shown in FIG. 46. If the Record button 432 is found to beselected by the user, step S146 is reached.

[0287] In step S146, the information control unit 351 causes the storageinformation management unit 354 to read the content data which have beenretained temporarily in the real data storage area 361 of the HDD 330and which are to be recorded to the disc 1. The information control unit351 then supplies the recording/reproduction unit 5 with the contentdata acquired from the storage information management unit 354 andcauses the recording/reproduction unit 5 to record the content data tothe disc 1. After the content data have been read from the HDD 330 andrecorded to the disc 1, the data in question are deleted automaticallyfrom the HDD 330. Alternatively, the content data may be deletedmanually in response to the user's instruction.

[0288] If in step S145 the user is found to have selected the Deletebutton 433, step S147 is reached. In step S147, the information controlunit 351 causes the storage information management unit 354 to deletethe content data which have been retained temporarily in the real datastorage area 361 of the HDD 330 and which were to be recorded to thedisc 1.

[0289] If in step S145 the user is found to have selected the Changebutton 434, step S148 is reached. In step S148, the information controlunit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display a disc change screen 441as shown in FIG. 47. The disc change screen 441 includes a list displayarea 442, a cursor 443, a Record button 444, and a Cancel button 445.

[0290] The list display area 441 gives a list of local disc IDs,cartridge IDs, and local disc names derived from the disc informationstored in the disc management table. In the displayed list, the cursor443 is shown highlighting the disc information “0005, 1511, No Name.”The disc 1 corresponding to the disc information currently selected bythe cursor 443 is the disc to which to record the content data. If it isdesired to replace the currently selected disc with a different disc towhich to make the recording, the user may move the cursor 443 to thedesired disc information and push the Record button 444. The user maycancel the disc changing operation by pushing the Cancel button 445.

[0291] Returning to step S148 in FIG. 45, the information control unit351 updates the applicable additional information (date of datacreation, remaining recordable capacity, etc.) and the flag in the discmanagement table within the data management memory 328A following therecording of the content data to the disc 1 or the deletion from the HDD330 of the data that might have been recorded to the disc 1.

[0292] The content data to be written to the disc 1 are recorded inassociation with the disc IDs to the disc management table, asdescribed. This makes it easy to determine, whenever a disc 1 is loaded,whether any content data to be recorded to that disc 1 are stored on theHDD 330 by referencing the disc management table based on the disc IDretrieved from the loaded disc.

[0293] It was shown that the dialog screen 431 of FIG. 46 appears if thedisc 1 is loaded while the content data to be loaded to that disc 1 havebeen held on the HDD 330. Alternatively, it is possible not to displaythe message of FIG. 46 and to let the content data be recordedautomatically from the HDD 330 to the disc 1 when the latter is loaded.

[0294] Where there exist a plurality of titles of content data to berecorded to the disc 1, these titles may be assigned priorities withregard to their recording to the disc 1. For example, suppose that theuser selects the “Yes” button 412 on the dialog screen 411 of FIG. 43displayed when the recording of content data to an unloaded disc isrequested, and that other content data to be recorded to the requesteddisc have already been held temporarily in the real data storage area362 of the HDD 330. In that case, the user may prioritize the contentdata about to be recorded and the previously recorded content data.

[0295] How such a priority setting process is performed will now bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 48. This process isstarted if the user selects the “Yes” button 412 on the dialog screen 41of FIG. 43 where content data to be recorded to the disc in questionalready exist in the real data storage area 362 of the HDD 330.

[0296] In step S161, the information control unit 351 references thedisc management table in the data management memory 328A and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display a priority setting screen 451 as shown in FIG.49 in accordance with the referenced table. The priority setting screen451 includes a Priority button 452 along with a message indicating thatthere exist a plurality of titles of content data to be recorded to theselected disc.

[0297] In the example of FIG. 49, priority 1 is assigned to the contentdata with a title A, and priority 2 is allotted to the content data witha title B. These titles have already been stored on the HDD 330 ascontent data to be recorded to the selected disc. By viewing thepriority setting screen 451 on display, the user considers a suitablepriority for the content data about to be temporarily recorded to theHDD 330, and selects the Priority button 452 to set the priority.

[0298] When the Priority button 452 is selected by the user, theinformation control unit 351 causes a pull-down screen 461 to appear asillustrated in FIG. 50. This pull-down screen 461 indicates items “1,”through “3” representative of priorities. The item “2” is shown selectedby the cursor 462 on the screen. The user may move the cursor 462 todecide on the preferred priority that is set for the content data aboutto be stored temporarily onto the HDD 330.

[0299] Returning to step S162 in FIG. 48, the information control unit351 determines whether or not the priority of the content data about tobe recorded has been set by the user. More specifically, a check is madeto see whether or not the Priority button 452 is selected on thepriority setting screen 451 of FIG. 49, whether or not the pull-downscreen 461 of FIG. 50 is displayed, and whether or not the desiredpriority is selected using the cursor 462. The information control unit351 waits for the priority to be set.

[0300] If in step S162 the priority is found to be set for the contentdata about to be recorded, then step S163 is reached. In step S163, theinformation control unit 351 updates the applicable recording ID in thedisc management table within the data management memory 328A.

[0301] What follows is a more detailed description of the prioritysetting process, with reference to examples in FIGS. 51A and 51B of thedisc management table within the data management memory 328A. Forpurpose of simplification and illustration, each recording ID is shownwith its high-order three bits supplemented by low-order three bitsconstituting the priority (e.g., “0×001001” is made up of a recording ID“001”+a priority “001”). Alternatively, some other suitable recording IDformat may be adopted as long as it allows each title of content data tobe designated uniquely.

[0302] Illustratively, for the disc 1 with the disc ID “0134” and thedisc name “*** Hamasaki,” priority 1 is assigned to the content datahaving a recording ID “0×001001” and priority 2 to the content datahaving a recording ID “0×010010” as shown in FIG. 51A. In other words,if the selected disc is loaded, the content data with the recording ID“0×01001001” will be first recorded to the disc 1, followed by thecontent data with the recording ID “0×010010.”

[0303] Suppose that, with two titles of content data already storedtemporarily on the HDD 330 preparatory to their recording to theselected disc, another title of content data to be eventually recordedto the selected disc is about to be written temporarily to the HDD 330,and that the user sets priority 2 for the newly added title of contentdata (with recording ID “011”) about to be stored. In that case, asshown in FIG. 51B, priority 2 is allotted to the title of content datahaving the recording ID “0×011010” (i.e., recording-ID “011”+priority“010”). That title of content data (with recording ID “0×010010”) whichwas previously assigned priority 2 is now assigned priority 3, with therecording ID changed to “0×010011” (i.e., recording ID “010”+priority“011”). (The low-order three bits are updated following the change ofpriorities.) If writing the new content data with priority 2 to the HDD330 has exhausted the latter's recordable capacity, the content datawith a lower priority may be automatically deleted (i.e., the contentdata with priority 3 in this example) from the hard disc. If deletingthe content data with a lower priority fails to vacate sufficient spaceto accommodate the content data about to be recorded temporarily to theHDD 330 (i.e., the content data with priority 2 in this case), the usermay be informed thereof and asked to reconsider the priorities.Alternatively, the user may be notified that the recording is canceleddue to a lack of recordable capacity.

[0304] If it is not desired to let lower-priority content data bedeleted automatically or to cancel the recording outright, theinformation control unit 351 may ask the other recorder or recordersconfigured on the network 302 whether or not any one of them can recordthe content data on behalf of this recorder with its insufficientcapacity. If any configured recorder is found capable of accommodatingthe content data, the data may be transferred (store) to that recorderfor storage.

[0305] As described, a plurality of titles of content data to berecorded to the disc 1 may be stored temporarily on the HDD 330 in thedescending order of their priorities. Later, when the applicable disc 1is loaded and when the content data to be recorded to that disc arefound to exist on the HDD 330 (in step S143 of FIG. 45), the dialogscreen 431 of FIG. 46 appears (in step S144 of FIG. 45). When the userdesignates recording of the content data to the disc, the multipletitles of content data retained on the HDD 330 are retrievedsuccessively and recorded to the disc 1 in the descending order of theirpriorities (in step s146 of FIG. 45).

[0306] If the recordable capacity of the disc 1 is exhausted halfwaywhile the applicable contend data are being recorded thereto in thedescending order of their priorities, the user may be notified thereof.Alternatively, the user may be presented not only with the notice of theexhausted capacity of the disc 1 but also with candidates of recordablediscs to which the remaining-content data may be recorded.

[0307] If in step S143 of FIG. 45 the loaded disc 1 is not found to beassociated with the content data retained temporarily on the HDD 330,then the information control unit 351 may alternatively search throughthe other digital video recorder or recorders configured on the network302 for any content data which are to be recorded to the disc 1 inquestion and which are being retained temporarily by the configuredrecorder or recorders.

[0308] The search process in the alternative case above is describedbelow with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 52. This process iscarried out when the digital video recorder 301 is connected to thenetwork 302.

[0309] In step S171, the information control unit 351 causes the currentdisc information management unit 353 to determine whether or not thedisc 1 is loaded into this recorder. The information control unit 351waits for the disc 1 to be loaded (corresponding to step S141 in FIG.45). If in step S171 the disc 1 is found to be loaded, step S172 isreached. In step S172, the information control unit 351 causes thecurrent disc information management unit 353 to read the disc ID anddisc information from the loaded disc 1 (corresponding to step S142 inFIG. 45).

[0310] In step S173, the information control unit 351 causes thecommunication unit 352 to establish connection with the other digitalvideo recorder or recorders configured on the network 302. Theinformation control unit 351 inquires the other recorders connected tothe network 302 whether or not they have any content data associatedwith the disc ID retrieved in step S172 by the current disc informationmanagement unit 353.

[0311] Each of the other digital video recorders configured referencesthe disc management table in its data management memory 328A, searchesits HDD 330 for any content data associated with the inquired disc ID,and sends the result of the search along with the device ID of therecorder to the digital video recorder that originated the inquiry.

[0312] In step S174, the information control unit 351 receives theresponse (i.e., result of the search) from the other recorder orrecorders. In step S175, the information control unit 351 determineswhether or not any other configured digital video recorder has thecontent data to be recorded to the loaded disc.

[0313] If in step S175 no other recorder is found to retain any contentdata to be recorded to the loaded disc, step S180 is reached. If in stepS175 some other digital video recorder is found to have the content datato be recorded to the loaded disc, step S176 is reached. In step S176,the information control unit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 471 such as one shown in FIG. 53.

[0314] The dialog screen 471 indicates a message informing the user thatcontent data to be recorded to the loaded disc have been found in someother configured recorder. Also indicated on the screen 471 are a Recordbutton 472, a Delete button 473, and a Change button 474. Each of thebuttons 472 through 474 is operated selectively by the user. Selectingthe Record button 472 causes the content data in question to be acquiredfrom the other recorder and recorded to the disc 1; selecting the Deletebutton 473 deletes the content data from the other recorder; andselecting the Change button 474 changes discs so that the content dataheld on the other recorder are to be recorded to a disc other than thecurrently loaded one.

[0315] Returning to step S177 in FIG. 52, the information control unit351 determines which of the Record button 472, Delete button 473, andChange button 474 is selected by the user on the dialog screen 471 shownin FIG. 53. If the user is found to have selected the Record button 472,step S178 is reached.

[0316] In step S178, the information control unit 351, using thecommunication unit 352 and network 302, acquires from the otherconfigured recorder the content data to be recorded to the loaded discand supplies the acquired data to the recording/reproduction unit 5 forrecording to the disc 1. After the content data from the other recorderhave been recorded to the disc 1, the data in question held by the otherrecorder are deleted either automatically or manually in response to theuser's instruction.

[0317] If in step S177 the user is found to have selected the Deletebutton 473, step S179 is reached. In step S179, the information controlunit 351 using the communication unit 352 and network 302 causes theother configured recorder to delete its content data that were to berecorded to the loaded disc.

[0318] If in step S177 the user is found to have selected the Changebutton 474, step S180 is reached. In step S180, the information controlunit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display the disc change screenshown in FIG. 47. The user then proceeds to change discs in order to getthe content data recorded to a different disc as discussed above.

[0319] More specifically in step S180, the information control unit 351updates the applicable additional information (date of date creation,remaining recordable capacity, etc.) and flags in its disc managementtable following the recording to the disc 1 of the content data acquiredfrom the other configured recorder, the deletion of the content data inquestion from the other configured recorder, or the change of discspreparatory to recording. Alternatively, the information control unit351 using the network 302 causes the other configured recorder to updatethe additional information and flags in the disc management table ofthat recorder.

[0320] As described, it is easy to search the other configured recorderor recorders over the network 302 for any content data that need to berecorded to the disc 1. If any other configured recorder is found toretain the content data to be recorded to the disc 1, the data inquestion are acquired from that recorder and recorded to the disc 1.

[0321] In the manner described above, local disc IDs and local discnames which are added to the discs 1 and which differ from theiroriginal disc IDs and disc names allow each digital video recorder tomanage the discs with ease. Furthermore, the inventive arrangementspermit the HDD 330 of the digital video recorder to retain temporarilythe content data to be recorded eventually to a given disc 1.

[0322] The data stored on the HDD 330 are not limited to those to berecorded to the disc 1; the data not associated with the disc 1 may alsobe retained temporarily on the HDD 330. Illustratively, the dataretained on the HDD 330 but not scheduled to be recorded to the disc 1,and the data saved temporarily on the HDD 330 because of an inadvertentremoval of power or like eventualities, may be associated as needed withthe disc 1 through simple operations.

[0323] Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 54 is theprocess of displaying the data held on the HDD 330. This process isstarted when the user performs operations to let all data held on theHDD 330 be displayed on the screen.

[0324] In steps S191 and S192, the information control unit 351 inresponse to the user's operations references the disc management tablein the data management memory 328A and refers to the data managementinformation in the data management information storage area 361 on theHDD 330. Generally, the disc management table contains the discinformation about all discs 1 that have been loaded so far and the datamanagement information includes all data that have been held in the realdata storage area 362. Referencing these tables allows the informationcontrol unit 351 to acquire the content data to be recorded to the disc1 as well as the data not associated therewith (i.e., all data that havebeen stored on the HDD 330).

[0325] In step S193, the information control unit 351 associates theinformation acquired in step S191 from the disc management table withthe data management information obtained in step S192, and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display an HDD reference screen 481 such as one shownin FIG. 55.

[0326] The HDD reference screen 481 displays folders 482-1 through 482-3as well as files 483-1 and 483-2. The folder 482-1 is shown havingcontent data to be recorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0001” (with alocal disc name “Father”); the folder 482-2 is shown holding contentdata to be recorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0002” (with a localdisc name “Travels”); and the folder 482-3 is shown retaining contentdata to be recorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0003” (with a localdisc name “Horses”). The files 483-1 and 483-2 indicate data that arenot associated with any disc 1.

[0327] These icons on display allow the user to determine easily whetheror not any given set of data is associated with any disc 1.

[0328] Suppose that after viewing the HDD reference screen 481, the userwants to have the file 483-2 recorded to the applicable disc. In thatcase, the user right-clicks the mouse to display a pull-down screen 484.The pull-down screen 484 shows items “Father,” “Travels” and “Horses.”When the user selects one of the items (e.g., item “Father”), the file483-2 is moved into the corresponding folder (folder 482-1 in this case)and the disc management table is updated accordingly (a recording ID forthe title B is brought into association with the disc ID “0001” whenrecorded).

[0329] Whereas it was shown that the user may select any one of theitems on the pull-down screen 484 to get the desired file associatedwith the applicable disc (i.e., folder), this is not limitative of theinvention. Alternatively, the file 483-2 may be simply moved into thefolder 482-1 in a drag-and-drop manner to establish its correspondenceto the applicable disc.

[0330] Whereas the folders 482-1 through 482-3 are created and displayedon the basis of their disc IDs held in the disc management table, thisis not limitative of the invention. Alternatively, the content dataplaced in each of the folders may be additionally displayed on thescreen.

[0331] For example, when the user double-clicks on the folder 482-1 withthe mouse, a disc reference screen 491 such as one in FIG. 56 appears.The disc reference screen 491 shows files 492-1 and 492-2 which arecontent data held in the folder 482-1 (i.e., data to be recorded to thedisc with the disc ID “0001”). With the disc reference screen 491 ondisplay, the user may set or change priorities for the content data tobe recorded to the disc.

[0332] For example, if the user wants to change the priority for thefile 492-2, the user right-clicks the mouse to get a pull-down screen493 displayed. The pull-down screen 493 shows items “1” and “2”indicative of priorities (the priority is shown set for “2” in thisexample). If the user selects the item “1,” the priority for the file492-2 is changed from “2” to “1.” Following the user's operations, thefile 492-1 has its priority changed from “1” to “2,” and the recordingIDs in the disc management table are updated correspondingly.

[0333] As described, when the disc information in the data managementtable are displayed in the form of icons or like indications, the useris offered more data visibility in establishing the correspondence ofthe data not associated with any disc to a desired disc through simpleoperations.

[0334] It has been shown that the content data to be recorded to thedisc 1 are recorded temporarily onto the HDD 330 in the absence of thedisc 1. Alternatively, the data may be temporarily recorded not only tothe HDD 330 but also to other suitable recording media such as magneticdiscs, optical discs, magneto-optical discs, or semiconductor memories.

[0335] The series of processes described above (e.g., the routineprocess of FIG. 4, duplication process of FIG. 5, reproductionreservation process of FIG. 7, search process of FIG. 13, deletionprocess of FIG. 21, mode setting process of FIG. 26, duplicate storageprocess of FIG. 30, routine process of FIG. 39, content recordingprocess of FIG. 41, recording process of FIG. 45, priority settingprocess of FIG. 48, search process of FIG. 52, and content displayprocess of FIG. 54) may be executed by hardware as well as by software.For the software-based processing to take place, the programsconstituting processing sequences may be either loaded from dedicatedhardware of a computer into its internal memory for execution, orinstalled upon program execution from a suitable program recordingmedium into a general-purpose personal computer or like equipmentcapable of executing diverse functions.

[0336]FIG. 57 indicates a typical internal structure of ageneral-purpose computer. In this structure, a CPU (central processingunit) 501 of the computer performs diverse processes in accordance withprograms held in a ROM (read only memory) 502 or with programs loadedfrom a storage unit 508 into a RAM (random access memory) 503. The RAM503 also accommodates data that may be needed by the CPU 501 in carryingout its processing.

[0337] The CPU 501, ROM 502, and RAM 503 are interconnected with oneanother via a bus 504. The bus 504 is also connected to an input/outputinterface 505.

[0338] The input/output interface 505 is connected to an input unit 506,an output unit 507, the storage unit 508, and a communication unit 509.The input unit 506 is made up of buttons, switches, a keyboard, and/or amouse. The output unit 507 is formed by a display device such as a CRT(cathode ray tube) or an LCD and by speakers. The communication unit509, constituted by a modem or a terminal adapter, conductscommunications over networks including the Internet.

[0339] The input/output interface 505 is also connected as needed to adrive 510 that is loaded with a magnetic disc 511, an optical disc 512,a magneto-optical disc 513, or a semiconductor memory 514. Computerprograms held on these media are read out and installed into the storageunit 508 for execution.

[0340] As shown in FIG. 57, the program recording media foraccommodating computer-installable, computer-executable programsdesigned to perform the above-described processes are constituted notonly by such package media as the magnetic disc 511 (including flexibledisks), optical disc 512 (including CD-ROM (compact disc read-onlymemory) and DVD (digital versatile disc)), magneto-optical disc 513(including MD (Mini-Disc; registered trademark)), or semiconductormemory 514; but also by the ROM 502 and storage unit 508 which arepreinstalled in the computer before being offered to users and which mayhave the programs stored therein temporarily or permanently. Theprograms are recorded to the recording media via the communication unit509 such as a router or a modem and through wired or wirelesscommunication media such as public circuit networks, local areanetworks, the Internet, and digital satellite broadcasting networks.

[0341] In this specification, the steps which are stored on the programrecording medium and which describe the programs to be executedrepresent not only the processes that are carried out in the depictedsequence (i.e., on a time series basis) but also processes that may beconducted parallelly or individually.

[0342] In this specification, the term “system” refers to an entireconfiguration made up of a plurality of component devices.

[0343] Industrial Applicability

[0344] According to the invention, as described above, it is easy tomanage information recorded on discs.

[0345] It is also easy to prevent inconsistencies that may occur in themanaged information following such eventualities as an inadvertentremoval of power.

[0346] The invention makes it possible properly to manage informationrecorded on a plurality of discs. Items of the information thus recordedcan be listed, sorted, and searched for with ease.

[0347] Furthermore, the invention allows discs to be furnished withadditional information that differs from user to user or from onerecorder to another. Where a recording disc is not loaded in therecorder for the moment, data that should be recorded to that disc maybe stored temporarily in the recorder for data management purposes.

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: reading means forreading, from a loaded information recording medium, identificationinformation for identifying said information recording medium; acquiringmeans for acquiring related information about first content datarecorded on said information recording medium; recording means forrecording said identification information read out by said reading meansand said related information acquired by said acquiring means, in such amanner that said identification information is associated with saidrelated information; and comparing means for comparing saididentification information read out by said reading means with theidentification information associated with said related informationrecorded by said recording means.
 2. An information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein, if the comparison by said comparing meansreveals that said identification information read out by said readingmeans has not been recorded by said recording means, then said recordingmeans records said identification information and said relatedinformation acquired by said acquiring means in such a manner that saididentification information is associated with said related information.3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: display controlling means for controlling display of saidrelated information recorded by said recording means; and selectingmeans for selecting said related information of which the display iscontrolled by said display controlling means; wherein said comparingmeans compares the identification information associated with saidrelated information selected by said selecting means with saididentification information read out by said reading means.
 4. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising reproducing means which, if the comparison by said comparingmeans reveals that the identification information associated with saidrelated information selected by said selecting means matches saididentification information read out by said reading means, thenreproduces from said information recording medium said first contentdata associated with said related information selected by said selectingmeans.
 5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3,further comprising notifying means which, if the comparison by saidcomparing means reveals that the identification information associatedwith said related information selected by said selecting means does notmatch said identification information read out by said reading means,then prompts a user to load said information recording medium associatedwith said identification information read out by said reading means. 6.An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: storing means for storing second content data acquired so asto be recorded to said information recording medium, in association withsaid identification information for identifying said informationrecording medium; and determining means for determining whether or notsaid identification information read out by said reading means matchesthe identification information associated with said second content datastored by said storing means.
 7. An information processing apparatusaccording to claim 6, further comprising writing means which, if saiddetermining means determines that said identification information readout by said reading means matches the identification informationassociated with said second content data stored by said storing means,then reads said second content data from said storing means and writessaid second content data to said information recording medium.
 8. Aninformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidrecording means records, in association with said identificationinformation, additional information which differs from said relatedinformation recorded on said information recording medium and whichconcerns said first content data.
 9. An information processing methodcomprising the steps of: reading, from a loaded information recordingmedium, identification information for identifying said informationrecording medium; acquiring related information about first content datarecorded on said information recording medium; recording saididentification information read out in said reading step and saidrelated information acquired in said acquiring step, in such a mannerthat said identification information is associated with said relatedinformation; and comparing said identification information read out insaid reading step with the identification information associated withsaid related information recorded in said recording step.
 10. Aninformation processing method according to claim 9, further comprisingthe steps of: storing second content data acquired so as to be recordedto said information recording medium, in association with saididentification information for identifying said information recordingmedium; and determining whether or not said identification informationread out in said reading step matches the identification informationassociated with said second content data stored in said storing step.11. An information processing method according to claim 10, furthercomprising the step of, if said determining step determines that saididentification information read out in said reading step matches theidentification information associated with said second content datastored in said storing step, reading said second content data stored insaid storing step and writing said second content data to saidinformation recording medium.
 12. A recording medium which stores acomputer-readable program comprising the steps of: reading, from aloaded information recording medium, identification information foridentifying said information recording medium; acquiring relatedinformation about content data recorded on said information recordingmedium; recording said identification information read out in saidreading step and said related information acquired in said acquiringstep, in such a manner that said identification information isassociated with said related information; and comparing saididentification information read out in said reading step with theidentification information associated with said related informationrecorded in said recording step.
 13. A program for causing a computer toexecute the steps of: reading, from a loaded information recordingmedium, identification information for identifying said informationrecording medium; acquiring related information about content datarecorded on said information recording medium; recording saididentification information read out in said reading step and saidrelated information acquired in said acquiring step, in such a mannerthat said identification information is associated with said relatedinformation; and comparing said identification information read out insaid reading step with the identification information associated withsaid related information recorded in said recording step.